Sviatoslav Richter + Beethoven Piano Sonata No.14

[dasmodul]

Hi guys,
I recently discovered Richter and have been trying to find a good CD with a performance of all 3 movements of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata. Can't seem to find it with Richter. Does anybody know the disc that this would be on? I can't imagine of all the Beethoven he's played, he did not play the most famous? Thanks!!

[Holden]

No, he never played it! He also didn't play numbers 2, 5, 13, 15, 16, 21, 24, 25 and 26.

See here for a discography

http://www.trovar.com/str/discs/beeth.html

[Brian]

Didn't play 14 or 21?

*is startled*

[mn dave]

Didn't play 14 or 21?

*is startled*

He didn't think he could do better than what was out there. Or something like that.

[Brian]

He didn't think he could do better than what was out there. Or something like that.

Well, that's an admirable stand, honestly.
Surprised he didn't at least want to play them, if only for his own pleasure. Especially 21.

[Novi]

He didn't think he could do better than what was out there. Or something like that.

Well, that's an admirable stand, honestly.
Surprised he didn't at least want to play them, if only for his own pleasure. Especially 21.

Alternatively, an act of supreme confidence for the other 22 ...

(I like Richter, by the way ).

[dasmodul]

He didn't!? WOW. That's astounding. Oh well, looks like I'll have to go for good ol' Wilhelm Kempff for that one. I'm ordering the 1958 Sofia recital from Richter, any other highly recommended ones I should look at?

[Novi]

He didn't!? WOW. That's astounding. Oh well, looks like I'll have to go for good ol' Wilhelm Kempff for that one. I'm ordering the 1958 Sofia recital from Richter, any other highly recommended ones I should look at?

Hello and welcome, dasmodul .

The Sofia recital is great. You might also want to get the Brilliant Classics box for some of his Beethoven and Schubert. I also like his Schumann.

Here are a few old threads that you might find interesting:

Sviatoslav Richter
RICHTER: The Master Series
the unstoppable sviatoslav richter

[Holden]

My starting point with Richter was many years ago with this CD



Richter in Tokyo playing Schubert D664 and D784 and was blown away with the performances. It was a while before I bought more Richter but this got me into his LvB

with a recording of the Appassionata that reinvented the work for me.

Since then I've never looked back but if you want to sample Richter at his very best then this is the CD to get.



I could go on and on but here is  a great start to your Richter collection

[George]

He didn't!? WOW. That's astounding. Oh well, looks like I'll have to go for good ol' Wilhelm Kempff for that one. I'm ordering the 1958 Sofia recital from Richter, any other highly recommended ones I should look at?

Yes.

I have three to recommend. All incredible in their own way.

1. Lupu from the GPOTTC 2 CD set. Wonderful reading.

2. Annie Fischer, Hungaroton. Another stellar reading.

3. Bernard Roberts - I know, an unlikely recommendation, but I tell you his is a lovely recording. You can get his whole set for $23 on amazon.usa currently. Beware though, only 6 of the 32 are good or better.   

(Sorry, I read your post as a request for Moonlight's...but since I already typed it...)   

[George]

He didn't!? WOW. That's astounding. Oh well, looks like I'll have to go for good ol' Wilhelm Kempff for that one. I'm ordering the 1958 Sofia recital from Richter, any other highly recommended ones I should look at?

Hope you have overdraft protection on your bank account. 

Seriously, his Schubert is nonpareil. The Regis label is a cheap and excellent way to hear his Schubert.

This Praga disc is a must own:
http://www.amazon.com/Chopin-Nocturnes-Polonaise-Scriabine-Sonatas/dp/B00020HD4Y/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1213267958&sr=1-3

As is this Debussy 2 CD set:
http://www.amazon.com/Debussy-Preludes-joyeuse-Ballade-Scherzo/dp/B00001W07K/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1213268005&sr=1-3

This disk costs a bit more, but it's worth it, as the transfers are better than other sources:
http://www.amazon.com/Rachmaninov-Piano-Concerto-No-Prokofiev/dp/B000001G5S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1213268057&sr=1-1

I think this set is a great bargain and has some great performances as well. It will be OOP soon, so do pick it up:
http://www.amazon.com/Sviatoslav-Richter-Concert-Historic-Archives/dp/B0002YCW1Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1213268161&sr=1-1

That's all for now, I don't want to overwhelm. 

[George]

with a recording of the Appassionata that reinvented the work for me.

Mama Mia that's a good one! Should have been re-released in the Master series instead of some of those lukewarm later recordings, or just tacked on at the end.

[dasmodul]

Great! Thanks guys, I'm all excited now. Time to go stimulate the economy on Amazon.com 

[George]

Great! Thanks guys, I'm all excited now. Time to go stimulate the economy on Amazon.com 

Check your messages, OK? 

[adamdavid80]

Hello and welcome, dasmodul .

The Sofia recital is great. You might also want to get the Brilliant Classics box for some of his Beethoven and Schubert. I also like his Schumann.

Here are a few old threads that you might find interesting:

Sviatoslav Richter
RICHTER: The Master Series
the unstoppable sviatoslav richter

I just got back from the shop, and got me a brand spanking new copy of the Sofia Recital right here.  Gonna unwrap it, and give it a spin.  Really looking forward to this.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

I just got back from the shop, and got me a brand spanking new copy of the Sofia Recital right here.  Gonna unwrap it, and give it a spin.  Really looking forward to this.

It's a legendary recital but the sound takes some tolerating, even in its new remastering. The coughing audience is the most egregious shortcoming.   

But don't let that put you off. Richter bootlegged is better than no Richter at all.

Two other Richter Pictures boast better sound - 1956 Prague, and 1958 Budapest - and are equally fascinating performance-wise, but neither are available. OOP as usual.

There's also a Pictures on BBC Legends that I haven't heard but is undoubtedly better recorded than Sofia. It's from 1968 and might be worth checking out if the sound on the Sofia disc grates too much.

[adamdavid80]

It's a legendary recital but the sound takes some tolerating, even in its new remastering. The coughing audience is the most egregious shortcoming.   

Yikes.  You weren't kidding.  Why'd Richter schedule this rectial at the height of the cold and flu season, huh??